Bare Your Sole 2016

Happy weekend everyone! How did you guys spend your weekend?

Yesterday, I was at the Bare Your Sole 2016 walkathon. It was mind opening and fun!

Bare Your Sole 2016 is an annual event that aims to raise fund for the less privileged as well as drive awareness for those living in poverty in Singapore and around the world – where going barefoot is a daily reality.


Habitat for Humanity’s Bare Your Sole returned with over 5,000 participants walking barefoot to raise S$250,000 on the 10th year anniversary of Project HomeWorks, Habitat’s local home cleaning programme. Initiated in September 2006, Project HomeWorks has reached out to over 1,800 homes of the elderly and disabled, by mobilizing volunteers to engage in an intensive home cleaning process that ultimately improves the beneficiaries’ quality of life.

I arrived in the morning, got my goody bag with Bare Your Sole t-shirt and changed into the event attire. The entire OCBC Arena was full of people in Tiffany blue shirt that bears show you care, go bare message. We were all ready to go after the warm up led by Virgin Active representatives but the weather was not on our side! The rain was so heavy we had to wait and gladly it stopped!


Soon after, we were on the starting line to begin our walk! Although the weather cooled the path from scorching morning sun, it was not as easy as it seems. In aiming to raise awareness of the poor without roof or footwear, we challenged ourselves walking barefoot throughout! Although there were challenging paths where you were allowed to wear your footwear, many like myself went bare throughout!


If you think that walking barefoot on modern Singapore concrete paths are hard, think of those who are living in poor countries where basic infrastructure like sidewalks are rare. You would be walking on dirt and if you are unlucky enough you would step on dangerous elements like nails and splints. So, on days that we think our days are bad, know that it is not the worst!


Bare Your Sole 2016 was not short of fun activities for families to relax post-walk. From special performances by the Toa Payoh Senior Activity Centre and local singer-songwriter duo, Ciao Turtle to a host of arts and craft activities aimed at kids, crowds were treated to a morning of fun and entertainment. A special highlight this year included a uniquely designed mock-up of a one-room HDB flat for participants to experience the living conditions of a typical Project HomeWorks’ beneficiary.


Bare Your Sole 2016 was graced by Mr. Philip Ng, CEO, Far East Organization and Senior Advisor to Habitat for Humanity, Singapore; Mr. S. Dhanabalan, Chairman, Temasek Holdings and Patron of Habitat for Humanity Singapore; Mr. Yong Teck Meng, National Director of Habitat for Humanity Singapore as well as local celebrities and Goodwill Ambassadors, Anita Kapoor and Paul Foster!